Embryonic and larval development of the malabar grouper, epinephelus malabaricus (pisces: serranidae)

Abstract

the embryonic and larval development of epinephelus malabaricus are described and illustrated for the first time. fertilized eggs, with a mean diameter of 0.90±0.02 mm and a range from 0.87 to 0.93 mm, were spherical, transparent, buoyant and unpigmented. embryonic development lasted 26 h 30 min at 25.5°c. newly hatched larvae were 1.93±0.04 mm in total length (tl) with 26 (11+15) myomeres and had an oil globule in the ventroposterior area of the yolk sac. three days after hatching (2.76 mm tl), the mouth opened. early larvae had two clusters of well-developed melanophores appearing on the alimentary canal and at the caudal region of the body, and the appearance of xanthophores on the dorsal finfold. nine days after hatching (4.04 mm tl), the buds of the second dorsal and pelvic fin spines had appeared. at 5.41 mm tl, the notochord was slightly flexed, and the hypural bones and caudal fin rays had begun to develop. at 7.39 mm tl, the ratios of the second dorsal and pelvic-fin spine lengths to tl attained their maximums, 52.68% and 48.62%, respectively. at 20.19 mm tl, all fins had the adult complement of rays and spines. by 30.18 mm tl, the body had become red, with five irregular, oblique, dark brown bars visible on the body. the larval habitat shifted from the surface and middle layers to the tank bottom.